CEBU CITY – There will be a significant surge in the demand for Filipino nurses working in the United States in the next eight to 10 years.
BERTCH Ian Ranis (left), co-owner and managing director of Fil-Global Immigration Services Corp., and Naomi Chelo Elemia, the firm’s program lead, talk how the company is helping the government prevent Filipinos from being victimized by ‘fly-by-night’ agencies. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Fil-Global Immigration Services Corp. (Fil-Global), a leading immigration and educational consultancy service provider, said the aging population and the baby boomer generation entering retirement are seen to fuel the demand for nursing professionals.
“We are witnessing a renewed and strong demand for Filipino nurses in the United States,” Bertch Ian Ranis, co-owner and managing director of Fil-Global, said in a recent press briefing.
With the surge, a group of immigration service consulting agencies in the Philippines vowed to help the government prevent the proliferation of “fly-by-night” agencies that continue to victimize Filipinos.
The International Education Consultants Alliance of the Philippines (IECAP), a 27-member association composed of agencies operating around the country, is working with the Department of Migrant Workers with the end goal of providing industry standards for the government.
“Hopefully, the government will not have to create a special department for it, because we are self-regulating ourselves to protect the Filipino students who have plans to study abroad,” said Ranis, one of the founding members and IECAP vice president for internal affairs.
Fil-Global, a company that has been operating in the Philippines for 10 years, is one of the key initiators in creating IECAP. It has seven offices across the Philippines, including one in Cebu.
Ranis, a former overseas student who later pursued a career in immigration consultancy, encouraged prospective students planning to study abroad to verify the legitimacy of educational consultants and ensure their businesses are legally registered with the government.
Last year, 80,000 Filipinos went abroad on student visas. The trend is on the rise, with an expected annual growth of at least 20 percent, he said.
A study by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) showed that the registered nursing (RN) workforce is expected to expand by six percent over the next decade.
The RN workforce is anticipated to grow from 3.1 million in 2022 to 3.3 million in 2032. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 193,100 openings for RNs each year through 2032 when nurse retirements and workforce exits are factored into the number of nurses needed in the US.
The AACN is said to be working with schools, policy makers, and nursing organizations to form collaborations to address the shortage of nursing professionals.
Banking on this demand, Ranis said that Fil-Global is intensifying its efforts to assist more Filipinos to study, work, and live in the US as nurses.
"Our goal is to provide the necessary support, from visa processing to job placement, ensuring that our nurses are well-prepared and confident as they embark on their careers in the US,” Ranis said.
Fil-Global announced the roll out of its pioneering Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the first agency to introduce a one-year BS-Nursing program in the US, in collaboration with the Oklahoma City University, with a 50 percent scholarship and guaranteed employment.
“This innovative program aims to offer Filipinos an accelerated pathway to a rewarding nursing career in the United States,” Ranis said.
The program offers free hospital placement for registered nurses who have passed the NCLEX Exam under the EB3 Green Card program. This initiative is designed to streamline the process for Filipino healthcare professionals seeking to build their careers in the US.
Ranis also announced the company sealed an exclusive partnership with the University of California, providing a six-month postgraduate program for Filipinos, complemented by a one-year paid work placement in New York. This partnership aims to enhance career prospects and provide valuable international work experience.
The company is also offering a Fully Funded STEM Program in collaboration with MPOWER Financing. This provides fully funded programs with $100,000 loans to cover board, lodging, and tuition for master’s degrees under STEM disciplines. This initiative is designed to support talented students pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“With the increasing demand, agencies like Fil-Global, are making this commitment to the US government in assisting more Filipino nurses secure employment opportunities for the US healthcare sector,” Ranis said.
As part of its 10th Anniversary, Fil-Global in Cebu is conducting a USA Expo on July 20 at the Lex Hotel, Escario St. corner Juana Osmena Extension, Cebu City intended for those looking to advance their education and career opportunities in the US and other countries.